Tom Berenger,
Ernie Hudson,
Diane Venora,
Marc Anthony,
Glenn Plummer
... see more 
An ex-mercenary (Tom Berenger) becomes a take-no-prisoners teacher in a drug-ridden, gang-infested Miami high school in this campy morality tale about restoring lost American virtues to the inner city... read more
Directed by: Robert Mandel
Release Date: June 1, 1995
DVD Release Date: July 25, 2000
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Stats: 320 reviews
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (320)
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July 24, 2010A cross between two different types of movies. The inspirational teacher / student movie and an action movie.
I liked it but there wasn't anything about it that really rocked my world. The characters were plain and cookie cutter, the plot was simple, and the action wasn't anyth... read more -
December 16, 2009Unlike many Tom Berenger Movies, this was one typical Tom Berenger Movie I thought. Unlike the Original one, this piece of Remake was very well done.
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December 25, 2008A tense, smart and powerful action-packed thriller. It gets an A+. A classic. a unique, compelling and very excing film with lots of great action, interesting characters and surprising human tenderness. Stylish, clever and very original. It's like Dangerous Minds with explosions ... read more
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March 13, 2008A reworking of "Dangerous Minds", which was a reworking of "Stand and Deliver". DM and SAD were in west coast environments. This film takes place in South Florida and Tom Berenger shows that he still is BA in this film even though it is nothing special.
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January 27, 2008This urban thriller is good by introducing the ultimate high-school disciplinarian - an unemployed mercenary soldier.
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June 18, 2007Another film in the teacher goes to the tough school to help out the problem kids. This time with a tough street gang with plenty of members at the local high school. Has some pretty good fight scenes, but overall quite average.
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November 5, 2008Oh look! Another high school intervention movie! This one has a slight twist to it, I'll give it that. But it still boils down to the same old tired crap.
Critic Reviews
February 13, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Aside from a lot of only moderately-satisfying violence, The Substitute comes across as rather lame. Full Review
January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Those who appreciate the irony of a killing machine turned loose on a pack of nasty students will find The Substitute a source of nonstop delight. Full Review
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The title changes, the actors change, and the superficial details of the story change, but it is always about exactly the same thing: heavily armed men shooting at one another. Full Review
January 1, 2000
Stephen Holden, New York Times
The entire setup is too garish to be credible. Full Review
January 1, 2000
John Hartl, Film.com
There's a certain amount of camp value to this over-the-top thriller, which might as well be called Rambo Goes to High School.
January 1, 2000
Keith Simanton, Film.com
An angry, white, mercenary movie out to spill blood and beat its manly chest.
October 9, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
What begins as watchable quickly degenerates into a no-brain action flick that produces a ton of derisive laughter.
July 22, 2003
Fred Topel, About.com
Really fun movie. Twist on the "Dangerous Minds" scenario.
March 21, 2003
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
Mediocre action flick with an ex-marine teacher taking his gang-banging students to task. Don't bother.
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The Substitute
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